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Dec 31, 2010
Local engineer patents new technology for engine efficiency
The environment today is twirling in anguish and the sky rocketing fuel prices only worsen the condition. An engineer from Surat patents a new technology that increases power efficiency of two and four stroke engines by 20 to 40 per cent. 49-year-old Parsottam Pipaliya, a local engineer developed and patented the technology which may have far-reaching effect on the automobile industry worldwide. Pipaliya runs a garage on Amroli Road in the city. His patent application was published on December 18, 2009, and closed on June 18, 2010.Pipaliya originally from Rajkot district, said, "We can have improvement by 1.5 times in the two and four stroke engines by carrying out changes in the dimension of crankshaft and cylinder bore." He added, "This technique could revolutionize the power efficiency of the engine," Pipaliya said and claimed it also reduces the burden, sound and vibrations of the engine, allowing it to work powerfully for a longer time. Additionally a mechanical engineer from a college in Morbi has been working to increase the mileage efficiency of vehicles for the past 20 years.
The technology he believes will also help save fuel. In India people are using fuel worth Rs 3,000 crore and the technology will help minimize the costs considerably. Pipaliya has registered his technology under the tag, 'The world master of mileage technology.' The engineer has been using it for experimental purposes in his own Maruti 800 car for the past 28,000 kms.
Surat to host India`s second largest Auto Show
The second biggest auto expo will be held from April 8-11, 2011 at the convention center in the city. The South Gujarat Chamber of Commerce and Industries (SGCCI) organized a curtain raiser for the Auto Expo to be held in April. Auto giants from different parts of the country will participate in the expo which will be held with the support of Federation of Automobile Dealers Association.FADA director S P Shah said, "The industry is in a phase of growth and Indian market in the eye of all the major manufacturers in the world." About Gujarat's potential, he said, "After Nano, days are not far when more big names will enter the small car segment of the country via Gujarat."
Tamil Nadu has 22 per cent market share in automobile sales in the country followed by Maharashtra's 12 per cent. Gujarat stands at the third place with 10 per cent. However, India is far behind in the world with regard to the use of cars against US' 700 per 1,000 people. On the other hand, China has a ratio of 22 against 1,000 and Sri Lanka and Pakistan have 16 and 14 cars per 1,000. Unfortunately India is yet to cross the double digit.
The SGCCI organizing committee said they decided to organize this expo for the first time in the city. They believe it has tremendous potential and the city has highest growth rate and highest per family income in the country. Few years back, an exhibition of embroidery work was hosted by the SGCCI. Interestingly, the city had over 50,000 embroidery machines of different kinds.
Skoda Auto India wins Silver Award
The world renowned brand Skoda Auto India, Aurangabad has won "Silver Award" in automobile sector. The coveted recognition was awarded from Greentech Foundation for its illustrious and consistent efforts in the area of Environmental Management.The "Silver Award" was presented in Hyderabad by Rakesh Shrivastava, IAS Joint Secretary, Ministry of Shipping, Govt. of India and Kamleshwar Sharan – President of "Greentech Foundation". Mr. Sanjay Datta, DGM HR & Mr. C.M. Sharma, Sr. Manager Quality received the Award on behalf of Skoda Auto.
The Greentech foundation also conducts annual Environmental performance competition across the Industries in India. This year it was ultra special as the competition saw the participation of 300 Companies. Senior government officials also graced the event. Special efforts were taken by Mr. Sanjay Datta – DGM HR & Admin, Dr. Abhay Kulkarni – Factory Medical Officer, Mr. C.M. Sharma – Sr. Manager Quality, Mr. Yogesh Wani – Manager Safety, Fire & Security, Mr. Kailash Mohite – Asstt. Manager Safety & Security, Mr. Hemant Gayke – Fire & Safety Officer and Other plant officials.
Managing Director Dr. Oliver Gruenberg & Director Commercial, Director HR & Admin Mr. Makarand Deshpande & CFO Mr. Sanjay Mundade have conveyed their hearty congratulation to the “SHE Team.”
Dec 30, 2010
Tata Nano design wins international award
Tata Motors much talked about car the Tata Nano wins an award from the Chicago Atheanaeum: Museum of Architecture and Design with the European Centre for Architecture Art Design and Urban Studies.Tata Nano design gets all the accolades for the extra space provided for the passengers. The large inner space can accommodate four adults. The exclusive design measures 3.1m long, 1.5 mts wide and 1.6 mts high. It is designed with least exterior footprint but is spacious by 21% than the other existing small cars in the markets.
Tata Motors has a host of other features and the attractive promotions coupled with easy and fast track finance within 48h have made Tata Nano one of a kind. Besides, the manufacturing warranty up to 60,000 km is the added attraction.
There have been dealer networks in 12 Indian states from August. The networks will be expanded to other areas before March 2011.
Aurangabad looks forward to 150 Mercedes Benz luxury cars
The city of Aurangabad is often written off as an ordinary, dirty and poor Indian city. The crowded streets and bland buildings do little to augment its image. It is a thriving manufacturing hub for pharmaceuticals, electronics and cars. However the current bulk order for 150 Mercedes Benz luxury cars will take every one by surprise. The bulk buy is an effort by the city's upper class to put their B –town in the fast lane.Speaking on the sudden change in events, Mr. Rahul Mishrikotkar, Director, Multitech Distributors said, "We are a close knit group of like minded friends from similar age groups in Aurangabad. We always thought of doing something big-banging to put Aurangabad on the global map. We thought we should buy luxury cars in one go to conceptualize this idea. Then everyone got added to it. "
Talking about the growing awareness of luxury brands, Raghavendra Joshi, Chairman, RJ Group said, "In the olden days the psychological mentality was a little different. People were not ready to spend money - not as much as people in the big cities. But now as the new generation is taking up the business, they spend their childhood here but they go abroad and see the outside world. They want to spend money, not just save it."
The Aurangabad bulk buy has had a ripple effect and the CEO of Mercedes Benz said, "This has had a positive impact not only creating aspirations in other tier 2 and 3 cities around the country, but it's made a difference to Aurangabad. Already new industries are coming in and starting to take the place more seriously."
There is more surprise as the bulk buys have not stopped with Mercedes. There are other groups ordering for 101 BMWs.
Tata Nano exciting and attractive scheme of zero down payment
Tata Nano new strategy to boost the sells of its Tata Nano like it originally did soon after its launch, Tata Motors Limited has, in its most recent offer, initiated the Tata Nano to prospective customers with a zero down payment loan scheme.Tata Motors officially stated that, “Yes, there is zero down payment option. It depends on the profile of the customer too. Tata Motor Finance is already offering it. We just suggested this to others as well. It is up to the financiers to offer 100 per cent financing.”
Tata Motors has managed to offer this scheme thorough its vehicle finance division. And they are giving 100% finance on their small car. Customers will only have to pay for the insurance and registration fees of Nano which amount to approximately Rs 22,000. According to the schemes, you will have to pay 14% interest on the loan amount also.
Volkswagen is the new official partner of IPL Season 4 & 5
Volkswagen, the Europe’s leading automobile manufacturer is the new official partners for the 4th and 5th edition of the Indian Premier League.IPL 4 is supposed to take place coming year most probably in June. By signing this deal with the Indian Premier League, Volkswagen has become the foremost German car manufacturing company to sign a deal with IPL in the wake of the tenders floated by the BCCI inviting partners for this venture.
"We are extremely happy to commence what will certainly be a fruitful association with Volkswagen. It is appropriate that two organizations that epitomize dynamism, enterprise and excellence have joined hands," IPL chairman Chirayu Amin said.
Volkswagen’s member of the board of director, Neeraj Garg went on to say that he was extremely pleased with the alliance and it would be very beneficial for the company as well. He said that their brand stands for making ‘people’s car’.
Head of Marketing and PR Volkswagen Group India, said, "It is a great honour and huge pleasure to become part of the Indian Premier League. Being the official automotive partner will be an enormous asset as it will foster Volkswagen's bond with India."
Maruti Suzuki India will rock on the roads with its all new Mini- SUV in coming 2 years
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd (MSIL) is working on a small sport utility vehicle to beat other raising segments in the domestic car market. It is considering a vehicle on the lines of the ‘Suzuki Jimny' which is a two-door petrol engine SUV sold in Japan, but will go for a diesel-powered four-door version for the home market.The car market leader target to launch seven new models in the next two years. This includes a new small-car in the Alto segment, mostly developed by its local R&D team, and a “Toyota Innova-type” MPV possibly based on the RIII concept. In 2011, Maruti will also launch the Kizashi sedan in January, the SX4 diesel variant around February, followed by the new Swift in March-April and the Swift Dzire models.
Maruti Suzuki India Ltd, Swift and Swift Dzire model refreshments will empower them in a segment where it is already the No 1 player. Al these launches would help Maruti maintain close to a 50 per cent market share, even as overall car sales are expected to grow 20-25 per cent next year.
“We're looking at how to strengthen our portfolio and are identifying new gaps. We're actively looking at the small SUV space … this will have to be a four-door diesel model, as a petrol two-door SUV will not click with the Indian consumer. We're working on an almost new concept for this,” said a senior company official.
Dec 28, 2010
High rubber prices to continue in 2011
The domestic as well as global rubber prices are high due to heavy rainfall in top natural rubber producing areas of Southeast Asia like Thailand and India which may hit output for existing year. The prices have also been supported by healthy demand from tyre industry and strong imports in China.The world's major rubber producers Thailand, Indonesia and Malaysia have been hit by heavy rains because of the La Nina phenomenon which cause drop in production. Thailand is the world largest natural rubber producer in the world followed by Indonesia, Malaysia, India, Vietnam and China are the other major producer with less than 1 million tonne produce a year.
Indian rubber supplies peak October-January, but this year un-seasonal rains have been hindering tapping. India, world 4th largest producer is likely to produce around 8,50,000 tonne of natural rubber in 2010-11, down 4.8% from the earlier estimate of 8,93,000 tonne. India consumes nearly 1 million tonne of rubber annually, split roughly halfway between the tyre and non-tyre industries. However higher production estimates for Jan-Mar next year might offset some of the production deficit of current year.
In India, the sale of vehicles—including cars, utility vehicles, trucks, buses, motorcycles and scooters—jumped an annual 26.4% in 2009-10 to 12.3 million units, data from Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM) showed.
Despite rainfall, overall global output of rubber for 2010 is estimated higher 6.6% by the Association of Natural Rubber Producing Countries (ANRPC) at 9.502 million tonne, In 2011 year, the global rubber production is supposed to rise by 4.2% to 9.898 million tonne.
Small cars top in comparison with big numbers
The calendar year 2010 can be certainly described as the year of the highest number of new car launches in the Indian passenger industry. The domestic sales volume of mini and compact segme nt put together are set to re ach close to 1.5 million units for the year 2010.Overall passenger car industry in India has recorded total sales of 1.72 million units for the January-November 2010 period as against 1.31 million units in the same period previous year, the sales of mini and compact segments stood at 1.34 million when compared with 1.02 million units in the same period previous year. Besides launch of new variants of existing compact models, At Present there are 25 anchor models in the mini and compact segments.
The country’s two largest players in the compact segment — Maruti Suzuki and Hyundai continued to record higher sales with long waiting period for several of their models, 2010 also saw US carmakers General Motors and Ford ending the year with highest ever sales volume since their inception in the country, mainly driven by their compact cars. “2010 has proved to be a good year for the auto industry in general and GM India in particular. We crossed one lakh unit mark for the first time since GM’s inception in India on November 27. We should be selling more than 1,10,000 units in this calendar year against 69,579 units sold in 2009 — a growth of over 60 per cent when the industry is likely to register a growth of over 30 per cent this year,” said P Balendran, vice-president, General Motors India.
Ford India, compact car Figo was the game changer. The company has been struggling with annual sales volume of 30,000-42,000 units over the past five years. Brands like Volkswagen and Nissan join the compact car race with their models Polo and Micra respectively in this year. Though Micras are exported in big numbers, Nissan’s Micra is yet to perform in domestic market like other models launched during the year.
A report of Emkay Research points out that there is a huge increase in first time buyers of cars in the country. “The 2 lakh plus income group (population of 148 million) has seen a sharp jump over the past decade, resulting in a burgeoning target population for passenger vehicles,” it said.
BMW to foray into pre-owned car business
BMW AG, the German luxury car maker, will set up a pre-owned car business in January in the country. This initiative is taken by the company to capture the flourishing market of car industry.
"It has been more than three years since we have been operating in the Indian market and the cars have now started coming back," said Andreas Schaaf, president, BMW India.
BMW has recently introduced its cheapest car till date in India, the X1 SUV in New Delhi. The company expects the X1 to sell the most among its models in the country. BMW's German cousin and arch rival Mercedes India had also introduced its used car business in June. BMW will initially have three showrooms in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai for selling used BMW cars.
BMW, which sold more cars in India this year than Mercedes, will do its utmost to retain the number one position in the luxury car maker, Schaaf said. "In the next two years, we will have a very aggressive market offensive in the Indian market," he said. BMW will launch its popular 6 series and the new X3 sport utility vehicle (SUV) by the middle of next year.
"Till now our flagship 5 series was our highest-selling model, but this year the 3 series has also caught up," said Schaaf. At present, BMW has its 3 series, 5 series, 7 series, Gran Turismo, Z4 Roadster, X1, X3 and X5 and X6 in its portfolio in India.
"It has been more than three years since we have been operating in the Indian market and the cars have now started coming back," said Andreas Schaaf, president, BMW India.
BMW has recently introduced its cheapest car till date in India, the X1 SUV in New Delhi. The company expects the X1 to sell the most among its models in the country. BMW's German cousin and arch rival Mercedes India had also introduced its used car business in June. BMW will initially have three showrooms in Delhi, Mumbai and Chennai for selling used BMW cars.
BMW, which sold more cars in India this year than Mercedes, will do its utmost to retain the number one position in the luxury car maker, Schaaf said. "In the next two years, we will have a very aggressive market offensive in the Indian market," he said. BMW will launch its popular 6 series and the new X3 sport utility vehicle (SUV) by the middle of next year.
"Till now our flagship 5 series was our highest-selling model, but this year the 3 series has also caught up," said Schaaf. At present, BMW has its 3 series, 5 series, 7 series, Gran Turismo, Z4 Roadster, X1, X3 and X5 and X6 in its portfolio in India.
Nissan in India to cut Micra’s price
To boost the sales of Micra in the cost sensitive Indian market, the Japanese auto giant Nissan Motors is looking to re-position this car in the volume driven A2 segment. Recently, a team of Nissan’s senior cost engineers from Japan had visited India to hold discussions with its vendors in order to diminish the cost of Micra’s components.Nissan India now seems to have realized that having cost benefit could really make a difference in the Indian market. The reduction in the price of Micra could raise a price war in the highly competitive compact hatchback segment. As there is high demand for the comparatively lower priced cars in the A2 segment such as Maruti Swift, Ford Figo and Chevrolet Beat,
Currently, Nissan Micra is available in the price range of Rs 4,02,421 to Rs 5,34,676 (Delhi ex-showroom). As of now, the company has sold more than 5,000 units of Micra in the Indian market simultaneously exporting over 9,000 units to foreign countries.
Dec 27, 2010
Infibeam Launches Phone Ordering
Ahmedabad, India; Dec 27th 2010: Infibeam today launched Phone shopping; another first of its kind initiative where-in users can simply place orders for products of their choice over the phone.
Besides providing users with the largest selection of books, electronics, gifts and lifestyle products at extremely competitive prices, Infbeam also provides them with best in class shopping features and customer service. Further, the whole ordering process has been redesigned to minimize the ordering time for the customer.
Speaking on the launch, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer Mr. Sachin Oswal said, "With cash on delivery being a big success, we wanted to couple it with an even more powerful tool, the mobile phone. With the penetration of mobile phones growing tremendously, our customers now need not be on the internet to be able to order products from Infibeam."
To this end, Infbeam is investing heavily in ramping up its customer service and processes to ensure a very smooth experience to customers. Currently customers can call up anytime during regular office hours, 8AM to 8PM from Monday to Saturday.
For more visit - http://www.Infibeam.com/
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About Infibeam.com:
Infibeam.com is India's leading eCommerce portal with a selection of more than 100 lac products across books, media, lifestyle, gifts, electronics and automobiles. Infibeam.com is known for its innovative navigation, lowest prices, free shipping and dedicated customer service.
Infibeam.com also offers its web-store technology and associated infrastructure as a service to well-known brands and retailers such as NDTV, K Sera Sera, Hidesign, TTK Prestige etc.
Infibeam.com was founded in 2007 by a group of ex-Amazon employees with expertise in e-commerce and technology. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Infibeam has 250 employees based out of offices in Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The leadership team consists of MIT, IIM and IIT graduates amongst others with more than 100 years of combined experience in Retail and eCommerce.
Besides providing users with the largest selection of books, electronics, gifts and lifestyle products at extremely competitive prices, Infbeam also provides them with best in class shopping features and customer service. Further, the whole ordering process has been redesigned to minimize the ordering time for the customer.
Speaking on the launch, Co-founder & Chief Operating Officer Mr. Sachin Oswal said, "With cash on delivery being a big success, we wanted to couple it with an even more powerful tool, the mobile phone. With the penetration of mobile phones growing tremendously, our customers now need not be on the internet to be able to order products from Infibeam."
To this end, Infbeam is investing heavily in ramping up its customer service and processes to ensure a very smooth experience to customers. Currently customers can call up anytime during regular office hours, 8AM to 8PM from Monday to Saturday.
For more visit - http://www.Infibeam.com/
###
About Infibeam.com:
Infibeam.com is India's leading eCommerce portal with a selection of more than 100 lac products across books, media, lifestyle, gifts, electronics and automobiles. Infibeam.com is known for its innovative navigation, lowest prices, free shipping and dedicated customer service.
Infibeam.com also offers its web-store technology and associated infrastructure as a service to well-known brands and retailers such as NDTV, K Sera Sera, Hidesign, TTK Prestige etc.
Infibeam.com was founded in 2007 by a group of ex-Amazon employees with expertise in e-commerce and technology. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Infibeam has 250 employees based out of offices in Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The leadership team consists of MIT, IIM and IIT graduates amongst others with more than 100 years of combined experience in Retail and eCommerce.
Toyota, Tesla team for electric comeback
The much-vaunted systems used by Toyota Motor Corp. to churn out millions of vehicles are being put to one side as the automaker tries to crack new markets in the United States and India.
In the United States, speed has been at the fore in Toyota’s joint development of an electric version of its RAV4 sport-utility vehicle with start-up manufacturer Tesla Motors Inc., while it has tailored a compact car for the Indian market that has been made with even barefoot drivers in mind.
On May 20, Toyota and Tesla made the surprising announcement that they were forming a corporate tie-up. But that was not the only startling development.
“We made the first prototype car in only three weeks,” said Shigeki Terashi, president of Toyota Technical Center USA. Despite being on the front line of the joint development, even Terashi was unable to suppress his surprise at Tesla’s nimbleness and ability to get things done quickly.
This “second-generation” RAV4 electric vehicle will hit the U.S. market in 2012.
Toyota’s decision to adopt a relative newcomer’s technology for the core components of a new vehicle marked a seismic shift for an automaker that had prided itself on using its own technology in new cars since its founding. In another move that raised a few eyebrows, Toyota entrusted the joint development to the engineering staff of Toyota Technical Center USA in Michigan.
While Toyota usually makes intricately detailed plans before actually starting development, Tesla tends to proceed with development first and correct any problems as they arise. Respecting schedules may be appropriate when developing many cars, but one should not be afraid to make mistakes when trying to achieve something more quickly, Tesla Chief Technical Officer J.B. Straubel said.
That is the basis of Tesla’s development philosophy. More than half a year has passed since the tie-up was announced, and some changes are rubbing off on Toyota: It has started to expand the responsibilities of its U.S. engineers, just like Tesla does, on a trial basis.
“We are learning from each other. ... Hopefully we can collaborate to improve our (development) process in the future (by adopting the flexibility of Tesla),” Greg Bernas, Toyota’s chief engineer for the joint vehicle development program, said.
Toyota and Tesla unveiled a prototype RAV4 electric vehicle at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Further tweaks and modifications will be made until the vehicle is released in 2012.
Development of the Etios required intensive research into how Indian people use cars — and how they drive them. For instance, a steel plate has been fitted under the Etios’ chassis to prevent stones from pinging up and hitting the fuel line and brake pads when it drives along bad roads in mountainous areas. Rails along which the movable seats slide have been designed so barefoot drivers and passengers will not get their feet caught.
In the United States, speed has been at the fore in Toyota’s joint development of an electric version of its RAV4 sport-utility vehicle with start-up manufacturer Tesla Motors Inc., while it has tailored a compact car for the Indian market that has been made with even barefoot drivers in mind.
On May 20, Toyota and Tesla made the surprising announcement that they were forming a corporate tie-up. But that was not the only startling development.
“We made the first prototype car in only three weeks,” said Shigeki Terashi, president of Toyota Technical Center USA. Despite being on the front line of the joint development, even Terashi was unable to suppress his surprise at Tesla’s nimbleness and ability to get things done quickly.
This “second-generation” RAV4 electric vehicle will hit the U.S. market in 2012.
Toyota’s decision to adopt a relative newcomer’s technology for the core components of a new vehicle marked a seismic shift for an automaker that had prided itself on using its own technology in new cars since its founding. In another move that raised a few eyebrows, Toyota entrusted the joint development to the engineering staff of Toyota Technical Center USA in Michigan.
While Toyota usually makes intricately detailed plans before actually starting development, Tesla tends to proceed with development first and correct any problems as they arise. Respecting schedules may be appropriate when developing many cars, but one should not be afraid to make mistakes when trying to achieve something more quickly, Tesla Chief Technical Officer J.B. Straubel said.
That is the basis of Tesla’s development philosophy. More than half a year has passed since the tie-up was announced, and some changes are rubbing off on Toyota: It has started to expand the responsibilities of its U.S. engineers, just like Tesla does, on a trial basis.
“We are learning from each other. ... Hopefully we can collaborate to improve our (development) process in the future (by adopting the flexibility of Tesla),” Greg Bernas, Toyota’s chief engineer for the joint vehicle development program, said.
Toyota and Tesla unveiled a prototype RAV4 electric vehicle at the 2010 Los Angeles Auto Show in November. Further tweaks and modifications will be made until the vehicle is released in 2012.
Development of the Etios required intensive research into how Indian people use cars — and how they drive them. For instance, a steel plate has been fitted under the Etios’ chassis to prevent stones from pinging up and hitting the fuel line and brake pads when it drives along bad roads in mountainous areas. Rails along which the movable seats slide have been designed so barefoot drivers and passengers will not get their feet caught.
Tata Nano launches its first ever television commercial for Nano
Tata motors, India`s leading auto manufacturer launches the first television commercial of Nano. The TV commercial was launched in a bid to revive the sales of Tata Nano Car which dipped to 509 units last month. The commercial was created by Rediffusion Y&R, and portrays the Nano as a roomy and sturdy car. The Nano is shown as an enviable car by virtue of its looks and performance.
The all new Tata Nano needs a touch- feel advertisement to create a phenomenal impression in our minds. The tag line- “key to your happiness” is aptly projected in the television commercial. A little girl is shown asking her grandmother when the Tata Nano will come home. The Tata Nano finally arrives, getting admiring glances all the way. The yellow Tata Nano car truly stands out as is drives through rough terrains to reach the house on a hilltop.
The small town neighborhood gathers to see the brand new Tata Nano car. The little girl hugs the car and the family prepares a traditional welcome. As is the belief in India, the girl applies some of her eyeliner on the car to prevent the ill effects of the prying eyes. This innovative ad signals a U turn in the marketing strategy for Nano. Besides, Tata motors have launched a multi-crore media campaign to rebuild Nano’s brand image, which had taken a beating a while ago. Tata motors have geared up for a countrywide network to sell Nanos including 1,000 odd special Nano kiosks, off the shelf. It also aims to reach higher volumes of 12,000-15, 000 units per month by April 2011.
The Tata Nano commercial, conveys the simple message that two-wheeler and three-wheeler owners may easily shift to Tata Nano. According to advertisement executives, the company is also planning another television campaign early next year.
The all new Tata Nano needs a touch- feel advertisement to create a phenomenal impression in our minds. The tag line- “key to your happiness” is aptly projected in the television commercial. A little girl is shown asking her grandmother when the Tata Nano will come home. The Tata Nano finally arrives, getting admiring glances all the way. The yellow Tata Nano car truly stands out as is drives through rough terrains to reach the house on a hilltop.
The small town neighborhood gathers to see the brand new Tata Nano car. The little girl hugs the car and the family prepares a traditional welcome. As is the belief in India, the girl applies some of her eyeliner on the car to prevent the ill effects of the prying eyes. This innovative ad signals a U turn in the marketing strategy for Nano. Besides, Tata motors have launched a multi-crore media campaign to rebuild Nano’s brand image, which had taken a beating a while ago. Tata motors have geared up for a countrywide network to sell Nanos including 1,000 odd special Nano kiosks, off the shelf. It also aims to reach higher volumes of 12,000-15, 000 units per month by April 2011.
The Tata Nano commercial, conveys the simple message that two-wheeler and three-wheeler owners may easily shift to Tata Nano. According to advertisement executives, the company is also planning another television campaign early next year.
The Indian auto sector witnesses record car sales mark for 2010
The year 2010 is indeed a special year for automakers in India. Many important events marked the Indian auto market. Maruti 800 took a bow from big cities, Hero split with Honda and Nano failed to impress. For an economy that grows at 9 percent, it was not surprising that the auto sales broke all records in the July –October season, where there was an average growth of 30 per cent.
India became the hot spot for the launch of Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport. At Rs 16 crores, the car became the costliest car in India. The niche cars like marques Aston Martin and Spyker Cars are believed to drive in soon. The year 2010 will also be remembered for the end of the 26 year partnership of Hero Honda. The slip was suggestive of the break-up of a Renault – Mahindra & Mahindra joint venture.
This year also marked the phasing out of the first people`s car- Maruti 800. It has already bid adieu to 13 major cities in the wake of strict Bharat Stage IV emission norms. Hindustan Motors have approached the Board for financial and Industrial reconstruction owing to the mounting losses. Tata Nano- the much talked about car did not have an easy ride on the Indian roads. Marked by dwindling sales, the Nano still needs to prove its mettle in the Indian market.
India was touted as the leading hub for global players and the homegrown Mahindra & Mahindra stepped in with its international expansion plans. However there have been no flurries of new launches as Renault and Ford also join the bandwagon to cash in on the sales boom. However, the new models that hit the roads include Maruti Suzuki Eeco, Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo and Vento and Nissan Micra. The Indian auto mart is slowly but steadily inching towards the two million units per year mark.
India became the hot spot for the launch of Bugatti Veyron 16.4 Grand Sport. At Rs 16 crores, the car became the costliest car in India. The niche cars like marques Aston Martin and Spyker Cars are believed to drive in soon. The year 2010 will also be remembered for the end of the 26 year partnership of Hero Honda. The slip was suggestive of the break-up of a Renault – Mahindra & Mahindra joint venture.
This year also marked the phasing out of the first people`s car- Maruti 800. It has already bid adieu to 13 major cities in the wake of strict Bharat Stage IV emission norms. Hindustan Motors have approached the Board for financial and Industrial reconstruction owing to the mounting losses. Tata Nano- the much talked about car did not have an easy ride on the Indian roads. Marked by dwindling sales, the Nano still needs to prove its mettle in the Indian market.
India was touted as the leading hub for global players and the homegrown Mahindra & Mahindra stepped in with its international expansion plans. However there have been no flurries of new launches as Renault and Ford also join the bandwagon to cash in on the sales boom. However, the new models that hit the roads include Maruti Suzuki Eeco, Ford Figo, Volkswagen Polo and Vento and Nissan Micra. The Indian auto mart is slowly but steadily inching towards the two million units per year mark.
Maruti Suzuki to foray all new Kizashi in India soon
Maruti Suzuki is going to launch executive sedan in the third week of January 2011. Kizashi is already running successfully in overseas markets in Europe. The version to be launched in India is a new model developed in 2010.
Sources briefed that Kizashi will be in the ‘C’ segment of car market. Kizashi will be fitted with a 2 litre petrol engine and expected to be priced between Rs 11-12 lakh (ex-showroom). The car will come in manual as well as automatic transmission.
Maruti Suzuki is the leader in the compact segment (models: Alto, Wagon R, Swift, Ritz) and mid-size segment (Dzire and SX4) occupying around 55 per cent and 36 per cent market share, respectively. Kizashi will be the first of the several new launches the company is planning in 2011.
Kizashi was showcased in 2010 Delhi Auto Expo and will be launched in India nearly a year after it. Kizashi will compete with models like Honda Civic, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corrola, etc.
Sources briefed that Kizashi will be in the ‘C’ segment of car market. Kizashi will be fitted with a 2 litre petrol engine and expected to be priced between Rs 11-12 lakh (ex-showroom). The car will come in manual as well as automatic transmission.
Maruti Suzuki is the leader in the compact segment (models: Alto, Wagon R, Swift, Ritz) and mid-size segment (Dzire and SX4) occupying around 55 per cent and 36 per cent market share, respectively. Kizashi will be the first of the several new launches the company is planning in 2011.
Kizashi was showcased in 2010 Delhi Auto Expo and will be launched in India nearly a year after it. Kizashi will compete with models like Honda Civic, Skoda Octavia, Toyota Corrola, etc.
Mercedes-Benz rolls out 30,000th locally assembled car in India
The 30,000th locally produced Mercedes-Benz today rolled out of the Mercedes Benz India assembly plant. The Managing Director and CEO of the company, Dr. Wilfried Aulbur ceremonially crowned the Mercedes-Benz logo on the shimmering black E350CDI Avantgarde in presence of the leadership team of the company at their manufacturing facility in Chakan, Pune.
Mercedes had reached the mark of 20,000th locally produced car in 2008, 13 years after start of operations in India. However the landmark of 30,000 was achieved within a short span of less than 3 years. It is indicative not just of the explosive growth of this segment but also of the company's growth. "Take 2010 as an example. The luxury car market grew by approximately 65% in Jan-Nov 2010 while Mercedes-Benz India grew faster than the market at 86% in the same period" elaborated Dr. Aulbur.
Mercedes-Benz's strategy for the Indian market have been focused upon offering a comprehensive product portfolio, delivering the highest value to the customer as well as ensuring world class sales, after sales and vehicle ownership experience. These initiatives coupled with aggressive product launches and network enhancement to smaller towns and cities have reinforced the strong traction with Indian market in 2010. This is also reflected in the growth of the company. "Our plant is regarded among the best CKD plants of Mercedes, globally. Within two years of moving into the new facility we have already fulfilled our first shift capacity. Start of our second shift will cater to the increased market demand as we foresee in the years to come." commented Dr. Aulbur.
Envisaging continued strong growth, Mercedes-Benz is gearing itself to harness the additional growth opportunities. "We plan to indigenize more and more products in India, focus upon local sourcing and optimize local value addition. We have decided to increase the portfolio of locally produced cars beyond the S-, E- and C- Class range starting 2013" commented Suhas Kadlaskar, Director Corporate Affairs and Human Resources.
With state of the art manufacturing facility and start of second shift catering to the demand from this burgeoning market, Mercedes-Benz decided that time was right for it to establish its own paint-shop in its facility at Chakan. Piyush Arora, Director-Technical, elaborates: "The rapidly growing market makes it a strong case for our own paint-shop. We have taken the decision to invest in a state-of-the-art technologically advanced paint-shop, capable of environment friendly water based painting going forward. This facility, set-up with a substantial investment will be ready by the second half of 2012 with the capability to paint all models from the Mercedes cars range."
Mercedes had reached the mark of 20,000th locally produced car in 2008, 13 years after start of operations in India. However the landmark of 30,000 was achieved within a short span of less than 3 years. It is indicative not just of the explosive growth of this segment but also of the company's growth. "Take 2010 as an example. The luxury car market grew by approximately 65% in Jan-Nov 2010 while Mercedes-Benz India grew faster than the market at 86% in the same period" elaborated Dr. Aulbur.
Mercedes-Benz's strategy for the Indian market have been focused upon offering a comprehensive product portfolio, delivering the highest value to the customer as well as ensuring world class sales, after sales and vehicle ownership experience. These initiatives coupled with aggressive product launches and network enhancement to smaller towns and cities have reinforced the strong traction with Indian market in 2010. This is also reflected in the growth of the company. "Our plant is regarded among the best CKD plants of Mercedes, globally. Within two years of moving into the new facility we have already fulfilled our first shift capacity. Start of our second shift will cater to the increased market demand as we foresee in the years to come." commented Dr. Aulbur.
Envisaging continued strong growth, Mercedes-Benz is gearing itself to harness the additional growth opportunities. "We plan to indigenize more and more products in India, focus upon local sourcing and optimize local value addition. We have decided to increase the portfolio of locally produced cars beyond the S-, E- and C- Class range starting 2013" commented Suhas Kadlaskar, Director Corporate Affairs and Human Resources.
With state of the art manufacturing facility and start of second shift catering to the demand from this burgeoning market, Mercedes-Benz decided that time was right for it to establish its own paint-shop in its facility at Chakan. Piyush Arora, Director-Technical, elaborates: "The rapidly growing market makes it a strong case for our own paint-shop. We have taken the decision to invest in a state-of-the-art technologically advanced paint-shop, capable of environment friendly water based painting going forward. This facility, set-up with a substantial investment will be ready by the second half of 2012 with the capability to paint all models from the Mercedes cars range."
Dec 23, 2010
Cash On Delivery Available On Infibeam.com
Ahmedabad, India; 20th Dec 2010: Infibeam.com, India's leading eCommerce portal, today announced the launch of Cash on Delivery (COD) service on its website. In addition to COD, Infibeam offers a wide range of Indian & international options for online payment including credit cards, debit cards, netbanking, cash cards, Paypal etc.Online shopping is still a fraction of the total retail market in India. One of the key reasons for lower penetration of online shopping in India is attributed to the under penetration of electronic payment methods. Through COD payment option, Infibeam intends to make online shopping accessible to a segment of customers such as students and small businessmen, who do not have access to credit & debit cards. Cash on delivery also opens up Internet shopping to customers who are reluctant to use their cards online due to security concerns.
Mr. Manu Midha, VP Planning and Operations, Infibeam.com, said, "It is our ongoing focus to provide the best shopping experience to our customers on Infibeam. Today we are introducing Cash on Delivery payment option on a large selection of books, gifts and electronic products".
"With cash on delivery consumers can take advantage of the large selection offered on Infibeam.com at lowest prices clubbed with the convenience of paying in cash", he added.
The cash on delivery facility will be provided free of cost to all customers with no order minimums. COD can be availed on a catalog of 1 million products and will be extended to 10 million, in the coming months. The service will be available across over four thousand zip codes in 70 Indian cities and will very soon be extended to Tier 3 & 4 cities in partnership with Indian Postal Service.
http://www.infibeam.com/Books/
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About Infibeam.com
Infibeam.com is India's leading eCommerce portal with a selection of more than 100 lac products across books, media, lifestyle, gifts, electronics and automobiles. Infibeam.com is known for its innovative navigation, lowest prices, free shipping and dedicated customer service.
Infibeam.com also offers its web-store technology and associated infrastructure as a service to well-known brands and retailers such as NDTV, K Sera Sera, Hidesign, TTK Prestige etc.
Infibeam.com was founded in 2007 by a group of ex-Amazon employees with expertise in e-commerce and technology. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Infibeam has 250 employees based out of offices in Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The leadership team consists of MIT, IIM and IIT graduates amongst others with more than 100 years of combined experience in Retail and eCommerce.
Dec 22, 2010
Gujarati Businessman won Rs.75L Mercedes-Benz SLK in one golf shot
Parthiv Mehta did what very few have done!! Ahmedabad based businessman Parthiv Mehta won a brand new Mercedes-Benz SLK over a hole-in-one shot over a game of golf. On Saturday, Mercedes Benz in association with Taj group has organized an event at Kensville Golf and Country Club, 40KM from Ahmedabad in the state of Gujarat in India to promote their newly launched Mercedes Benz SLK in Gujarat.Mr. Mehta shot an amazing 140 yard shot which landed directly in the hole. This is a rare happening action in the game of golf. Mr. Mehta won a brand new Rs.75 Lakh Mercedes Benz SLK. After winning it, he said, "I just couldn't believe it".
Tata Motors developing double-trailer truck for O/S sales
India's Tata Motors Ltd (BSE:500570) is developing a double-trailer truck in its Prima range of world trucks for the overseas market, which is expected to be ready for sale by end of next financial year, said a senior company executive."The truck is expected to be ready for sale by the end of next fiscal year," the executive said here on condition of anonymity.
When asked why the trucks are being developed only for the international market, he said, "We understand that there is no good demand for this kind of truck in the domestic market, but we feel its demand will be good in overseas markets."
However, he did not quantify the production capacity developed by the company at present.
Tata Motors introduced its Prima range of world trucks in May last year. The company is now manufacturing engines for its medium-and-heavy commercial vehicles (trucks and buses) at its Jamshedpur facility.
The company has an equal joint venture with US-based Cummins to manufacture engines for commercial vehicles at its Jamshedpur plant. The home-grown auto giant is also developing a set of fuel-efficient engines for light commercial vehicles (trucks), which would help increase its sales in the international market.
"We are developing a set of fuel-efficient engines (three-litre and five litre) for light trucks," the Tata Motors official said last week, adding "the new engines are likely to be used on a new vehicle platform for light trucks."
He did not give a time-frame by when the company expects to come up with these new engines.
"We have also told Cummins to revamp engines for the medium and heavy trucks," the executive said.
Tata Motors' global sales increased by six per cent in November to 79,959 units and its commercial vehicles sales were up by 21 per cent at 40,244 units as compared to the same month last year.
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CEAT Ltd. brings the 50th 'CEAT-PRO Knowledge Series' to Mumbai
Indian tyre major CEAT Ltd organized a knowledge platform - 'CEAT PRO' for the fleet owners of Mumbai to help them better their businesses and reduce operation costs. This is an interactive platform that gives the fleet owners access to best practices and ideas across diverse areas of the trucking sector.As part of its fleet excellence program CEAT PRO knowledge series aimed to create a common platform for sharing information & resources and thus helping fleets compete on a flatter turf. The panelists spoke about Fuel economy- A future trend in lubricants in India, Ground realities on the use of telematics to increase fleet operational efficiency, Radialization and the future of tyres in India, Advantages of 'On-site' service support, and various benefits of maintaining a service-support structure, keeping costs and down-time low.
CEAT PRO has been a key initiative, an industry first, which aims at connecting with the large fleet owner. It was started in July 2009 to offer a knowledge platform for fleet owners and it celebrated the 50th Knowledge Seminar in Vashi, Mumbai yesterday. Over the last 17 months CEAT PRO has travelled across the country and has touched over 4000 fleets helping them improve and change the way business is done.
Speaking on this occasion, Mr. Vinod Kumar, Head - Marketing, CEAT Ltd said, "The Indian transportation industry is booming, however it lacks a common platform to engage customers and help them build best practices. At CEAT we believe in partnering with our customers and the automobile industry to gain value and optimum growth, thus "CEAT PRO" was born and now is moving forward as the foremost platform for knowledge sharing and partnership."
He added, "CEAT - PRO is not a selling plank but a knowledge plank to share ideas and the best industry practices. For this CEAT will engage the industry experts and help co create value for the end customer by assisting him in new technology, information and best practices."
The Indian truck transportation market is approximately Rs 38000 cr, of this more than 80% market lies in the unorganised sector. Even with the recent developments, the overall awareness of technology improvements and industry best practices is quite low. Penetration of new age systems such as the Fleet Management software or the GPS systems is quite dismal and mostly restricted to only a select few big transporters.
The first step in this direction is the CEAT 'PRO' knowledge seminar series wherein top industry experts share their views on a variety of topics and thus helping fleet owners.
As a further step, CEAT has also started India's First and only Transportation awards, India Road Transportation Awards (IRTA). This award is the next step in CEAT's efforts to take forward the knowledge platform and to start recognizing the achievers in the transportation sector. It is a platform to recognize the Innovators who have transformed the Transportation Industry. The first National Awards were held in Mumbai on 25 June, 2010.
Mahindra launches its Off-roader, the Thar, in India
Mahindra & Mahindra, India’s market leader in utility vehicles today introduced its legendary 4X4 off roader the Thar CRDe, in India. The much awaited 4x4 off-roader is being launched in India and is targeted at the off roading enthusiasts, retro look seekers & people wanting to make a unique style statement.Mahindra Thar aims to play a significant role in shaping the lifestyle vehicle segment both in urban and rural India. Consumers today are looking for a different lifestyle, as they seek adventure and a fun experience which the Thar will offer. With the retro look back in vogue, the Thar is all set to chart a new terrain in the Indian automobile industry.
Speaking at the launch Mr. Rajesh Jejurikar, Chief Executive, Automotive Division, Mahindra &Mahindra Ltd, said, “Having realized the potential of this emerging segment of offroad enthusiasts and lifestyle seekers, we have launched the Thar in India. Mahindra Thar is an extension of our legacy and what Mahindra stands for. Popular amongst generations of off-road enthusiasts, style seekers and even war-veterans, not many vehicles share the same legendary past and iconic status of the Mahindra Thar.”
Mr Rajan Wadhera, Chief Executive, TPDS, Mahindra & Mahindra Ltd. said, “The Thar is a manual 4x4 machine coupled with a powerful CRDe engine 77 kw (105 BHP) & drive by wire technology which is capable of providing it variable speeds and acceleration. To handle this excess power, THAR CRDe’s tough rigid ladder frame chassis has been optimised to enable crisp handling. Modern suspension layout of IFS and abuse resistant rear leaf springs delivers a great balance between ride and handling which is unheard of in this segment before. Light & responsive Integral power steering gives delightful manoeuvrability to the Thar”.
Initially set up to manufacture general-purpose utility vehicles, Mahindra & Mahindra’s heritage began with assembly of the iconic Mahindra CJ 340 in India. The company later branched out into manufacture of utility and light commercial vehicles. It grew rapidly from being a manufacturer of army vehicles and tractors to an automobile major with a growing global appetite. Today, with changing lifestyles and evolving consumer needs, M&M is all set to redefine the Indian offroading category with its unique retro look offering, the Thar CRDe.
The Thar CRDe is a true blue, stylish off roader, which is an evolved version of the Mahindra CJ340, the MM 540, the Classic and the Legend. A typical Mahindra breed, the Thar CRDe, is now faster, stronger and more powerful and reflects the company’s legendary tough and rugged DNA. Priced at Rs. 5.99 lacs (ex showroom Delhi, BS IV variant), the Thar CRDe attempts to evoke nostalgia of a time when offroading was simply about pure adrenaline.
The powerful CRDe engine delivers on power and fuel economy. The cabin can seat seven people, while two rear bench seats can be folded to create a massive luggage area. It is available in a BS IV variant with power steering as a standard fitment, giving it a comfortable drive. The customization options and accessorized vehicles are also available for booking.
The Thar will be launched in Delhi, Chandigarh, Bangalore, Mangalore and Jaipur by end December and the rest of India by January 2011.
The Thar is also available with a DI engine as a base variant. The Thar DI will be positioned as a lifestyle vehicle for the rural market with both 2 wheel and 4 wheel drive options. The BS III variant will be priced at Rs 4.47 lacs, ex showroom Jaipur.
Mahindra Reva launches REVAi in Pune
Mahindra REVA Electric Vehicles Pvt. Ltd. (Mahindra REVA), one of the pioneers of electric vehicle technology in India, announced that its REVAi vehicle will be available at 4 Mahindra dealerships in Pune. This is one of the major initiatives announced by the company post its acquisition by the US $ 7.1 billion Mahindra Group in May 2010.“We are delighted to launch the REVAi in Pune where there is already a great deal of interest in our vehicles. With issues such as climate change and carbon footprint taking centre stage globally, eco-friendly transportation has become the need of the hour. The electric vehicle market is hence, poised to grow rapidly. Mahindra’s extensive distribution network, coupled with our unique finance plan will help us make significant inroads into the local market,” said R. Chandramouli, Chief of Operations, Mahindra REVA.
Mahindra REVAi is a technologically advanced car equipped with a `boost’ mode for acceleration and power. It also has a ‘hill restraint’ feature which allows enhanced negotiation on slopes. As an eco-friendly and economical car, it offers ease of driving without clutch and gears. Its small size makes parking hassle-free and manoeuvrable for safe driving on city roads. Further, the vehicle can drive at 80 km per hour with acceleration from 0-40 km in 7 seconds. The REVAi will be available at Rs. 3.10 lakh (for REVAi Standard, ex-showroom Pune).
REVA’s patented technology incorporated in its Energy Management System (EMS) ensures optimum performance and life from the battery. The car also has a regenerative braking system by which energy is pumped to the battery while slowing down or applying the brakes. With a range of up to 80 km per charge, Mahindra REVAi is suitable for most journeys within the city. Its automatic drive, no emission and no noise make it the ‘perfect city car’.
Nissan Micra Diesel Launched In India At Price of Rs 5.59 Lakh
Nissan India, the Indian unit of Japanese auto giant Nissan Motors, has launched the much awaited diesel version of Nissan Micra hatchback in the Indian market, on Friday. The new Nissan Micra Diesel has been offered in two variants at Rs 5.59 lakh and Rs 6.05 lakh (Ex-showroom), respectively.The new diesel variant of the company carries a 1.5L eight-valve four-cylinder engine that is capable of delivering a peak power of 47kw at 4,000rpm. Both variant of Micra come mated with a five-speed manual transmission and are claimed to be offering a class-leading fuel economy of up to 23.08 km/l.
Before this, in July this year, the company had launched the petrol version of Micra in the Indian market that has been registering impressive sales in the country since than. So far, the company has managed to sell more than 6,000 units of Micra Petrol in India.
As per a statement given by Nissan India’s MD and CEO Mr. Kiminobu Tokuyama, the success of the Micra Petrol version in the Indian market has given the company confidence to introduce the diesel variant of the car within six months of its launch in response to popular demand. He was briefing to the reporters at the launching ceremony of Micra Diesel in Mumbai.
The new diesel version has been placed in B+ segment of cars where it will be fighting for space with the likes of Volkswagen Polo, Maruti Swift, Maruti Ritz, Ford Figo and Fiat Punto. Currently, about 85 percent content of Micra is sourced locally and only the engine and transmission are sourced fro company’s plants in China and Japan.
Moreover, the company plans to launch this car to as many as 100 new foreign countries by Oct 2011. In order to meet the demand for this car in both foreign and domestic markets, Nissan India is aiming to ramp-up the Micra manufacturing capacity to 2,00,000 units per annum by next year.
BMW India to foray brand new BMW X1 on December 23
BMW India is gearing up to launch BMW X1 on 23rd of December, 2010. BMW India which is fully owned subsidiary of Germany based BMW group has unveiled its most awaited sports utility vehicle in India.All new BMW X1 model would be hauling both diesel and petrol versions along with both manual and automatic transmission options. The BMW X1 model will be assembled at company’s Chennai plant following its import in India through CKD (Completely Knocked Down) unit route.
Once BMW X1 launch in the country, it will be the lowest priced car in BMW Indian portfolio. The BMW X1 will be competing with Toyota Fortuner, Honda CR-V, Ford Endeavour and Mitsubishi Outlander etc.
The car would be launched in two variants including X1 Corporate Edition and X1 Highline. The petrol version of this car will be launched sporting a 1.8L engine and on the other side the diesel version by a 2.0L diesel engine. The launch of BMW X1 will additionally boost its existing strong luxury SUV line-up including BMW X3, X5 and X6.
For the moment, BMW India has taken the top luxury car maker’s position from Mercedes Benz in the country. The BMW India plans to invest in its India operations Rs 70 crore by year 2012.
Nissan India to compete with Toyota Innova with its new MPV model
Nissan India is gearing up to launch all new multi purpose vehicle simultaneously with other key models. Nissan India is a subsidiary of Japanese auto giant Nisaan Motors. This MPV segment so far is conquered by the Toyota Innova.Company’s Managing Director & CEO Kiminobu Tokuyam, while interacting with the reporters during the launching ceremony of Nissan Micra diesel, said that the company is launching a new multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) in joint venture with Ashok Leyland. He added, The MPV model will be launched in line with the market leader Toyota Innova in 2012,
Nissan India is set to invest Rs 2,200 crore at its present Chennai facility. The company is very aggressive and has set the target to roll out five new car models in coming 2 years in the Indian market. Nissan India is also planning to boost its annual production capacity to 4, 00,000 units from existing 2, 00, 000 units.
Moreover, the Japanese auto maker is also giving consideration to import its luxury sedan Teana as semi knocked down unit so that it can qualify for a lesser excise duty segment. Currently, the car is imported as a completely built unit from its Japanese facility and attracts a massive 110% excise duty.
At the same time the Japanese automaker is trying to import its luxury sedan Teana as semi knocked down unit with the interest to meet the requirements for a lesser excise duty segment. At present the car is imported as a fully built unit from its Japanese facility and catches the attention of a massive 110% excise duty.
For now, the Nissan has launched in India the diesel variant of its small car Nissan Micra. By now the Micra model is offered in the petrol version which has clocked the sales of over 6,000 units in the country since it’s commence in July 2010. The new diesel run Micra will be challenging with Maruti Swift, Ford Figo, Hyundai i20 and Volkswagen Polo.
Harley-Davidson to start booking from 1 Jan, 2011
Motorcycle maker Harley-Davidson announced that bookings for the first bikes to roll out from its assembly facility will start from 1 January, 2011. The first two models that will be offered - the SuperLow and the Iron 883 - will be priced at Rs.5.5 lakh and Rs.6.5 lakh, respectively, the company said in a release on Tuesday.Harley-Davidson didn't say when the deliveries would start. "We are yet to take a call on that," a company spokeswoman said. "We will only be able to tell you once the bookings start." The bikes will be the first to be assembled at its facility in Bawal, Haryana, and will join the 12 existing models on offer. These bikes are all imported as completely built units (CBUs).
Loan for Tata Nano in 48 hours from Tata Motors Finance
Tata Motors Finance (TMF) has launched a special Tata Nano finance scheme, under which a customer can get a loan with select documents in just 48 hours.TMF will provide finance up to 90% for the Tata Nano, at easy rates. TMF, which provides customer finance for all Tata Motors vehicles, is present in all the 540 odd passenger vehicles outlets of the company.
As already announced, the Tata Nano will now come with a 4-year / 60,000-km (whichever is earlier) manufacturer’s warranty, at no extra cost. Besides being applicable on new deliveries, the warranty is also being extended to all existing owners of the car.
In addition, all new buyers have the option to avail of a comprehensive maintenance contract at only Rs.99 per month. This contract will help customers take care of running maintenance of the car.
These benefits will further enhance the satisfaction of Tata Nano users. Beginning July 2009 when despatches to those who had booked the car started, the company has delivered over 71,000 Tata Nanos. Customer satisfaction studies with current Tata Nano owners indicate that over 80% are satisfied or very satisfied with the car, because of it being small yet spacious, its performance, maneuverability, durability, mileage and safety. Some owners have taken their Tata Nanos on country-wide trips or to altitudes like Khardungla, the world’s highest motorable road.
As reiterated by the company earlier, by dint of its robust design and state-of-the-art components, the Tata Nano provides assured reliability, durability and safety. Tata Motors has made the car even more robust, as announced on November 9, with enhanced features in the car’s electrical and exhaust systems. All new cars being delivered to customers come with these enhanced features. Parallely, existing owners are being offered the option to install these in their cars, at no extra cost.
Since August this year, the company has already begun open sales of the Tata Nano, and it is already freely available in 12 states. Retail sales have substantially increased in the first five states of open sales. Besides its already existing showrooms, the company is setting up Special Nano Access Points for customers in the hinterlands to experience, test-drive or test-ride the car. Gradually expanding these reach-out initiatives, coupled with customer benefits, Tata Motors will cover the entire country with open sales by March 2011 to take the Tata Nano to those who dream of owning the car.
Ducati India enters into Ahmedabad
We see a lot of potential in the western market and the opening of this showroom is a part of our aim to create a strong network that will provide our customers a world-class Ducati ownership experience.Ducati India a division of Precision Motor India Private Limited, today announced the opening of its third dealership outlet in India at Ahmedabad with Cama Motors Private Limited.
On this occasion, Mirko Bordiga, CEO, Ducati, Asia Pacific, said, “Ducati India dealerships are presently leading in offering high quality services that are at par with international standards. We see a lot of potential in the western market and the opening of this showroom is a part of our aim to create a strong network that will provide our customers a world-class Ducati ownership experience. We have received a positive response from all bike enthusiasts and it’s good to know that they are excited about the Ducati brand. We feel honored to be part of the evolving motorcycle industry in the country.”
Ashish Chordia, CEO of Ducati India operation trading under Precision Motor India Private Limited said: “This is yet another milestone since our successful India launch in 2009. The Ducati brand symbolizes racing success and passion, which we at Precision Motor India also represent. With India’s appreciation of luxury bikes and the opening of this showroom we are now able to offer customers the opportunity to experience what riders across the world have experienced for over a century. We also look forward to a long and fruitful association with Ducati and Cama Motors and we are very proud to be promoting the Ducati brand in India.”
On the occasion, Rustom Cama, Executive Director, Ducati Ahmedabad, (Cama Motors) said, “In order to serve our clientele with enthusiasm and passion we are proud to launch our first Ducati showroom and workshop facility in Ahmedabad. As Ducati dealers in Ahmedabad we commit ourselves to delivering the Ducati experience to all Ducatista. Promoted by the Cama Motors, our investment in this new facility, customer service and after sales has already been rewarded by orders and deliveries, even prior to the opening. The level of interest in the Ducati brand in Ahmedabad has been very positive.”
Volkswagen hikes Polo prices
Volkswagen announced an increase in the price of the Polo. Starting January 1, 2011 this popular hatchback will witness a hike starting at 2.9 percent.Commenting on this, Neeraj Garg, member of Board & Director, Volkswagen Passenger Cars, Volkswagen Group Sales India Pvt. Ltd. said “We have been faced with constant rise in input cost over the past several months and have tried our best to absorb it.
However, in order to continue to maintain our quality standards that our customers expect from us we have had to increase the price by a small percentage.”
He further added “Customers, who book the Polo until December 31, 2010, will be able to avail their favourite car at the present prices.”
The Polo was launched in India in March 2010 and has already sold more than 17,000 units as of November 2010.
Manufactured in Volkswagen’s plant in Chakan, the Polo is the first locally made Volkswagen model to be launched by the European automobile major in India.
Ford Figo wins Indian Car of the Year (ICOTY) 2011 Award
In line with the American Car of the Year, European Car of the Year and Japanese Car of the Year, these awards are at par with international standards and are the most prestigious auto awards of the country.JK Tyre, in association with the top auto magazines in India, today presented the most prestigious awards in the automotive industry - the Indian Car of the Year 2011 (ICOTY) and the Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2011 (IMOTY).
The nominees were judged by a panel of senior automobile experts who got together to vote for the most impressive car and motorcycle of the year. Using their analytic skills and competence, the expert jury evaluated and tested the cars and motorcycles nominated. The voting system is very fair and transparent which makes the ICOTY and IMOTY amongst the most credible and coveted awards.
Ford Figo was conferred with the Indian Car of the Year 2011 and Honda CB Twister bagged the Indian Motorcycle of the Year 2011.
Congratulating the winners of ICOTY & IMOTY, Dr. Raghupati Singhania, Vice Chairman and Managing Director, JK Tyre & Industries Ltd. said, “We are here to celebrate the achievements of the Indian automobile industry and to honour the focused and rigorous efforts made by auto makers in the areas of Design excellence and innovation and R&D. The ‘Indian Car of the Year’ and ‘Indian Motorcycle of the Year’ awards recognize the auto manufacturer with the highest level of performance in terms of product development, quality, timely delivery, competitive pricing, project management and customer service.”
The cars and motorcycles nominated were judged on various parameters such as price, fuel efficiency, design, comfort, safety, manoeuvrability, performance, functionality, environmental responsibility and driver/rider satisfaction among others. In addition, technical innovation and value for money were particularly important factors while deciding on the winner.
Cars and motorcycles that have had cosmetic facelifts or small mechanical changes like different power or drive trains, do not qualify for these awards. The country of origin does not matter, but they have to be sold in showrooms in India before 30th November of the previous year and should have been homologated for Indian type approval.
“The Indian Car of the Year award reflects India’s standing in the global automotive market. It recognizes the efforts made by manufacturers to give us Indians the cars that have been engineered with us in mind. Over six years, the ICOTY award has grown in stature and today, it’s something that all car manufacturers in India aspire for,” said Srinivas Krishnan, Editor, Business Standard Motoring and Chairman, ICOTY 2011.
On winning the ICOTY award Michael Boneham, President& MD, Ford India said, "Coming close on the heels of the Figo's immense popularity with over 58,000 units sold in past eight months, this industry-wide recognition truly establishes it as a performance car. The critical acclaim from the experts reinforces the faith in Figo as one of the best products in its class available today.”
The esteemed jury for ICOTY comprised Bob Rupani and Gautam Sen from Auto India, Sirish Chandran and Bertrand D’Souza from Overdrive, Girish Karkera and Sriram Narayanan from Top Gear, Aspi Bhathena from Car India, Srinivas Krishnan and Pablo Chaterji from Business Standard Motoring and Yogendra Pratap and Vikrant Singh from Auto Bild.
The jury of IMOTY included Bertrand D'Souza and Shubhabrata Marmar from Overdrive, Girish Karkera and Debabrata Sarkar from Top Gear, Aspi Bhathena from Bike India, Pablo Chaterji from Business Standard Motoring and Vikrant Singh from Auto Bild. This 13-member specialist jury consisting of senior Indian automotive journalists is the best from the industry and together they have over 300 years of experience.
In the ICOTY Category, while Ford Figo emerged as the clear winner with 83 points, Volkswagen Vento came second with 57 points. There was a tie for the third spot between Volkswagen polo and Skoda Yeti with 37 points.
There was a close clash between the top three motorcycles in the IMOTY category. Honda CB Twister won with 66 points while giving close competition was Bajaj Pulsar 135 LS with 63 points. TVS Jive was in third position with 48 points.
The finalists for the ICOTY category this year were Chevrolet Beat, Ford Figo, Maruti Suzuki Wagon R, Nissan Micra, Skoda Yeti, Tata Aria, Volkswagen Polo and Volkswagen Vento. The finalists for the IMOTY category were Bajaj Pulsar 135LS, Bajaj Discover 150, Honda CB Twister, Mahindra Stallio, TVS Jive and TVS Max4R.
India’s youngest F1 driver Karun Chandhok and India’s youngest karting champion Jehan Daruvala were also present at the award ceremony. Famous celebrity, Sophie Chowdhury added glitz and glamour to the award ceremony and enthralled the audiences with her mind-blowing performance.
Toyota launches the Etios Sedan in Kolkata
Toyota Kirloskar Motor held a press meet in Kolkata today to announce the company's entry into the highly competitive B Segment with the launch of the Etios Sedan, the car that has been developed specifically for Indian customers - 'World First, India First, My First'. Toyota had also announced the name of the hatchback version, the Etios Liva.The Etios sedan will be available in four variants, J, G, V and VX, competitively priced between Rs. 5,03,198/- and Rs. 6,94,985/- ex showroom Kolkata. The product highlights include innovative styling, best-in-class cabin and luggage space, superior comfort, impressive fuel efficiency and the legendary Toyota QDR.
Mr. Koji Nagata (Executive Managing Coordinator & Director, TKM), Mr. Yugo Miyamoto (Senior Managing Coordinator) and Mr. Ramesh R K (General Manager-Marketing, TKM) addressed the media.
Mr. Yugo Miyamoto, Senior Managing Coordinator, Sales, TKM spoke about the development of the product, he said: "It was very important to understand the needs of Indian car buyers and this was done by extensive research. We found that our target customers are highly price conscious but at the same time want good mileage, space and style. One of the strong points of the Etios is its True Sedan design. The Etios has been designed as a Sedan platform and not as a Hatch with a boot. It is smartly packaged with all the attributes for Indians who love to travel with their families - boasts best-in-class cabin and luggage space, ergonomic interiors and superior ride comfort."
Talking about the Etios Sales and Marketing strategy in India, Mr. Koji Nagata, Executive Managing Coordinator & Director, Marketing, TKM, said: "We have an elaborate Marketing strategy planned for the Etios and it all started with the roping in Mr. A.R.Rahman as our brand ambassador who we believe was a perfect fit with the brand values of our product.
We are also prepared to provide our customers a one class above experience, what we refer to as the Q Class Experience. In view of this effort, we have undertaken various initiatives: (a) Express Maintenance Service - Services and delivers the vehicle to the customer in 60 mins, (b) eCRB (Evolutionary Customer Relationship Building) - A tool that keeps the customer informed about the status of the vehicle that has been given for servicing."
Mr. Ramesh R K, General Manager - Marketing, TKM added by saying, "We are now gearing up to cater to a whole new segment of customers. We have expanded our dealer network to reach out to the tier II and tier III cities, we will complete 150 dealerships by the end of 2010 ".
The Etios is very important for Toyota and the company believes this launch marks the beginning of a new era for Toyota in India. In fact this launch will enable Indian customers in the middle income group to own an aspirational Toyota vehicle for the first time. The production of the Etios will begin as planned in the new plant which is the most environmentally friendly automobile manufacturing plant in the country today.
Earlier this year Toyota had announced its plans to begin production of engines and transmissions at the Toyota Kirloskar Auto Parts in the third quarter of 2012 that will help in increasing the localisation content of the Etios.
Vehicle Outline
Exterior: A distinctive front grille with a smile line, sculpted surface and dynamic character-line in the front and rear, enhance the presence of the Etios. The rear has a fluent flowing C pillar, rounded end and three-dimensional combination lamps that enrich the vehicle's exterior from different angles.
Interior: The seats are ergonomically designed units with integrated head rests. An instrument panel clearly divided into the information area and operation area with a large centre meter provides excellent visibility. The Etios has class best cabin and luggage space of 595L, a spacious 13L cooled glove box, seven one litre bottle holders, mobile holder and many more such useful storage spaces inside the car.
Performance and Comfort
A newly developed 1.5L, 16V DOHC engine coupled with a 5-Speed manual transmission that produces high output for best-in-class driving performance. The torque is available at low rpm for less gear shifting and stress-free city driving.
The Etios has a superior mileage of 17.6kmpl which is ARAI tested. Electric power steering for excellent maneuverability and tilt steering ensures a good ergonomic driving experience. The steering comes with audio controls for comfort at the driver's fingertips. The flat type rear floor design offers ease of movement for rear seat passengers. With its rigid body structure and world class Mac Pherson Strut, the Etios has superior dampening performance providing superior ride comfort. A class-first 'clean air filter' which is standard across all grades for purified air in the cabin.
Safety
The Etios has various active and passive safety features ensuring the car matches global safety standards. The various safety features are (i) Energy absorbing body shell (ii) Driver & Passenger Air bags and (iii) ABS with EBD.
Its centrally located combimeter reduces eye movement and hence the driver can concentrate on the road.
Special Treatment
To adopt to the various diverse climate and usage conditions in India, special treatment and countermeasures have been implemented:
* Good ground clearance of 170mm
* Under body protection to prevent damage to fuel and brake lines
* Anti-corrosion steel sheets at areas prone to rusting and stone hits
* Chipping resistant paint on rocker mould & fender
Dec 20, 2010
Great Christmas Gifts from Infibeam - Online Christmas Gifts Store
Ahmedabad, India, December 20th, 2010: Infibeam has added a wide range of innovative gifts for this festive season. Infibeam's Christmas Gifts store promises to provide best selection of products at the lowest prices. Use Infibeam's advanced shopping features, innovative navigation tools, low prices and timely delivery, this festive season.The online Christmas gift store includes anything and everything that a festival shopper can think of. It carries a wide range of gifts ranging from Christmas wine, cakes, chocolates, and candles to a tall Christmas trees. The innovative Christmas gift baskets, Christmas goodies like wines and cakes and great decorative, adorn the Christmas gift store.
The new and wide-ranging product catalog is enhanced by free shipping across India. Besides, Infibeam's also provides cash on delivery as a feature on few product categories.
Infibeam.com wishes you a very happy Christmas and a prosperous New Year.
http://www.infibeam.com/Christmas_Gifts/
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About Infibeam.com:
Infibeam.com is India's leading eCommerce portal with a selection of more than 100 lac products across books, media, lifestyle, gifts, electronics and automobiles. Infibeam.com is known for its innovative navigation, lowest prices, free shipping and dedicated customer service.
Infibeam.com also offers its web-store technology and associated infrastructure as a service to well-known brands and retailers such as NDTV, K Sera Sera, Hidesign, TTK Prestige etc.
Infibeam.com was founded in 2007 by a group of ex-Amazon employees with expertise in e-commerce and technology. Headquartered in Ahmedabad, Infibeam has 250 employees based out of offices in Bangalore, Delhi, Kolkata and Mumbai. The leadership team consists of MIT, IIM and IIT graduates amongst others with more than 100 years of combined experience in Retail and eCommerce.
Dec 13, 2010
Top 5 fuel efficient cars in India
Tata Nano
Tata Nano is India's the most fuel efficient car as well as the cheapest car in India. It offers mileage of 23.7 kmpl. Tata Nano comes at the price tag of Rs. 1.3 to 1.8 Lakh and available in 3 variants.
Hyundai i10
Hyundai i10 offers mileage of 20.3 kmpl. It comes at the price tag of Rs.3.48-5.91 and available in 9 variants.
Maruti Suzuki Alto
Maruti Suzuki Alto offers mileage of 20.2 kmpl and cost Rs.2.23-3.23 Lakh. It comes in 8 variants.
Hyundai i20
Hyundai i20 offers mileage of 20 kmpl and cost Rs.4.54-7.5 Lakh. It is available in 12 variants.
Maruti Suzuki A-Star
Maruti Suzuki A-Stat gives mileage of 19 kmpl. It comes at the price tag of Rs.3.63-4.42 and available in 4 variants.
Buy & Sell Cars online in India - Only on Infibeam.com
Hyundai i10
Hyundai i10 offers mileage of 20.3 kmpl. It comes at the price tag of Rs.3.48-5.91 and available in 9 variants.
Maruti Suzuki Alto
Maruti Suzuki Alto offers mileage of 20.2 kmpl and cost Rs.2.23-3.23 Lakh. It comes in 8 variants.
Hyundai i20
Hyundai i20 offers mileage of 20 kmpl and cost Rs.4.54-7.5 Lakh. It is available in 12 variants.
Maruti Suzuki A-Star
Maruti Suzuki A-Stat gives mileage of 19 kmpl. It comes at the price tag of Rs.3.63-4.42 and available in 4 variants.
Buy & Sell Cars online in India - Only on Infibeam.com
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